Italy and Russia begin joint military exercises

Russian and Italian warships started joint training missions on Thursday in the Mediterranean Sea as part of the Ioniex-2013 exercise, RIA Novosti quotes a spokesman for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet as saying.

“Russian frigate Smetlivy as well as Italian destroyer Durand de la Penne and the frigate Espero sailed today for the active phase of the Ioniex-2013 exercise,” RIA Novosti quotes Capt. 1st Rank Vyacheslav Trukhachev.

Exercises will continue through November 9. It will include artillery drills with live ammunition firing, air defense and anti-submarine warfare drills.